Southerland believed Haines to be homeless. He was often seen walking the roads of Brown County.

Brown County Chief Deputy Coroner Earl Piper said he suspects Haines suffered a heat stroke about two hours before his body was discovered.

Piper is waiting for a toxicology report to determine the official cause of death. He expects to receive the result in less than two weeks.

The outdoor temperature at Haines’ estimated time of death was 92 degrees, with a heat index of 97 degrees. The National Weather Service had issued warnings that day that high heat indices can cause heat illness quickly and with little warning.

Piper said Haines’ core body temperature had reached 109 degrees.

Brown County deputies, along with EMS and Jackson Township volunteer firefighters, assisted at the scene.

-- Kevin Lilly, Brown County Democrat

ORIGINAL POST:

The coroner and detectives have been dispatched to the area of Indian Hill Road and State Road 45 on a report of a body lying near the railroad tracks.

A passer-by called Brown County Dispatch at 3:55 p.m. to report that a person was lying about 100 feet off the road and was not responding.

THURSDAY EVENING UPDATE: The deceased person is a white man in his late 20s to early 30s. Police believe they know who he is, but will not officially release his name until next of kin is notified.

9:45 a.m. UPDATE: The man has been identified as Douglas A. Haines, 29, whose last known address was Unionville. His cause of death is under investigation.